And Sunday's home game against Premier League leaders Leicester has been identified as crucial by Allardyce, who needs a boost before the trip to Norwich a week later, when defeat would surely seal their fate.

"We have already made life difficult for ourselves and now we've made it more difficult again," he said. "We know we have to play Norwich and we have a game in hand, but what we don't want to do is let that gap get any bigger. We have to try and reduce it before we play them."

Premier League's most relegated players

Tue, March 22, 2016

Express Sport takes a look at the unfortunate players who have experienced relegation the most times from the Premier League